James was born in Florence on November 7, 1971. He and his brother Salvatore are the sons of Ferruccio Ferragamo, CEO of Salvatore Ferragamo SpA up to October 2, 2006 and now President of the company. James attended the Millfield School in England. He then studied Marketing and International Business at New York University’s Stern Business School with his twin brother Salvatore. During summer breaks, he worked as a Sales Assistant at the Salvatore Ferragamo store in Los Angeles. After graduation, James spent two years at Saks Fifth Avenue as Buyer for men’s casual wear, before returning to NYU to complete the two-year Master’s program in Finance, Accounting and International Business, with an internship at Goldman Sachs in London. In January 1998, James joined Ferragamo and began his managerial training, working first in the women’s shoe department (handling key projects, such as the introduction of the ballet shoe with shell-shaped sole) and launching a new line of Ferragamo shoes. From 2000 to 2003, he served as General Merchandising Manager before taking over the Women’s Leather Goods Division in 2004. Four years later he was also named head of the Women’s Footwear Division and is currently Director of Women’s Leather Goods, with responsibility for production as well. In addition, James Ferragamo fills an advisory role as member of the young entrepreneurs’ group of the Florence section of Confindustria and has also been a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization since January 2009.